SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -
UC Santa Barbara senior guard Alex Harris has been selected to the Collegehoops.net Mid-Major All-America Team, it was announced Tuesday. Harris was chosen Second Team Pre-season All-America by the website, which specializes in the coverage of NCAA Division I mid-major leagues and programs.

Harris had a breakthrough season as a junior in 2006-07, averaging career-highs of 21.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. The 6-foot-6 Alameda, Calif. native ranked 11th in the nation in scoring, won the Big West scoring title and, following the season, was named First Team All-Big West and Second Team All-District by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Harris' scoring average and total of 611 points rank as the third highest in UCSB history. He also made 71 three-point baskets, the fourth most ever, and his three-point field goal percentage of 45.8% ranks second all-time.

After averaging 7.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in his first two seasons, Harris wasted no time establishing himself as an elite player as a junior. He scored 20 or more points in each of the first seven games of the 2006-07 season, helping the Gauchos to a 5-2 record over that span. Harris also finished the season by scoring 20 or more in the final six games, averaging 26.0 points and making 23-of-41 (56.1%) from three-point range in those games. Offensive consistency was a hallmark for him during his junior season as he scored 20 or more points 18 times, 25 or more 10 times and 30 or more twice. Harris scored a career-high 35 points in a late-season game at Cal State Fullerton, the highest point total recorded by a UCSB player in 10 years.

"Al is very deserving of this recognition," said UCSB head coach Bob Williams. "He worked very hard to get to the level that he achieved last year. I believe he has the ability and work ethic to continue that development this year. His numbers may not show it, but I expect Al to be an even better all-around player as a senior."

Harris averaged more than 22 points per game as the Gauchos went 4-1 on a tour of British Columbia in September. He and his teammates open regular practice on Friday, Oct. 12 in preparation for the 2007-08 campaign. UCSB will open the season on Nov. 1 when it hosts Cal State Dominguez Hills in the only exhibition game on the schedule. The team will tip-off the regular season on Friday, Nov. 9, when it opens play in the Basketball Travelers Classic at Stanford. The Gauchos will play Northwestern State on Nov. 9, Harvard on Nov. 10 and Stanford on Nov. 11. The home opener against Cal Poly Pomona is slated for Thursday, Nov. 15.